Improvement in dies for stamping checks



R. B. CARSLEY.

Y Dies for Stamping Checks, &'c.

No.152329, Pate.nted.--Juril23,1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT B. CARSLE'Y, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN DIES FOR STAMPING CHECKS, &c.l

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,329, dated June 23, 1874; application filed March 23, 1872.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT B. OARsLnY, formerly of Boston, Massachusetts, and at present of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improveiients in Dies for Stamping Checks, Drafts,

My invention consists in combining a metal die bearing a fanciful or other figure or figures, executed in clear, sharp, and well-defined edgelines with a counter-die, so accurately matched to the die that paper, on being interposedand compressed between them, will not only be embossed, but will, in addition thereto, be so cut and abraded at the crowns of the severa-l figures or portions of the figure, as to render it practically impossibleto fraudulently alter or change any numerals or writing previously inscribed ou said surface prior to its embossment; and I do hereby declare that the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a clear, true, and accurate description of my invention.

Figure 1 represents a hand-stamp provided with my improved dies. Figs. 2 and 3 represent counter-dies detached from the stamp.

Heretofore, embossing-dies for hand and other stamps have been so made that, when new, paper would be cut by them in the embossing operation. This cutting, however, has always been and still is considered a fatal objection in notarial seals, business-cards, &c., and is laboriously obviated by a subsequent modification 0r rounding of the edge-lines of the counter-die, the same being usually accomplished by successive stamping of thin brass or other metal which is harder than the metal of which the counterdie is composed.

In the manufacture of my improved dies for stamping checks, drafts, Jvc., at the point where the value-n uinerals are placed, this heretofore objectionable feature of cutting the paper is sought by me as a prime essential, in connection with embossing; for while it is the embossed surface of the paper which prevents a free stroke of the pen, and leaves none of the original surface sufficiently continuous and smooth to admit of the insertion thereon of even the simplest straight-line numeral, it is the cut or abrasion at the crowns of the embossed lines which unduly take and absorb the ink, and thereby reveal at once the most careful attempt at fraudulent alteration or raising In order to preserve continuity of d the embossed vportion of the paper, the cutting and abrasion are not continued to any great extent in any one line or direction, nor should any of the cuts join or unite with other cuts or abrasions.

'The design of the figure in the die may be largely varied, and the master-die may be executed in any of the well-known styles of sunraying,77 barli-gycorning,7 rose-turning, &c., capable of being done in the well-known engraving-lathes; or such lines may be executed by hand. However the work is performed, the edge-lines of the figure should be clear, sharp, and well defined, so that at the apexes of all the raised portions of the figure, the paper will be finely cut or abraded. Owing to the fact that these sharp lines are liable to be dulled and rendered non-cutting by continued use, I render them practically ,very durable by having the counter-die composed of an alloy of tin and antimony, which is compressed, while the dies are matched, by means of hydraulic pressure ranging from one hundred and fifty to two hundred tons. rfhese counter-dies may be copper-faced by the electrotyping process, either after the impression is made, or the electro-deposit may be made upon the die preparatory to the pouring of the alloy.

The master-die for making the stamp-die, from which the counter-die is formed, may, obviously, be cut in raised or sunken lines, as may in each case be most desirable, although I prefer that said lines or figures be in relief, thereby producing the reverse effect in the upper or stamp die, which, in turn, produces the counter-die in relief.

The check or draft, while being stamped, should always be face up, so that it may readily be seen that the paper is properly located to'receive the impression, and the relief or iinished embossnient should be on the same side of the paper, and therefore the counter-die should be in relief, and on the bed of the stamp.

I desire it to be distinctly understood that I make no claim to any particular configuration, outline, or design of figure in the die, as

I :nn well aware that sueh may be endlessly varied, and un also @were that it is preferable that the said lines employed in the design be other than straight lines, and that the curves thereof be more or less irregular; but I I do claim and desire t0 secure by Letters 'Patent- Dies for stamping cheeks, drafts, &c., hear-v ing thereon accurately-matched, raised, and l sunken iignres, executed in sha1-p andv well defined lines, substantially as described, whereby seid dies may emboss and et the same time cut through the paper7 in the mau 11er und for the purposes specified.

ROBERT B. GARSLEY. Vitnesses:

WILLIAM K. KIDD, CHARLES H. ROBINSON. 

